Tech Makes Us Dumber… Smarter… Dumber… Smarter…
…or technology makes our lives better… worse… better… worse…
The recent post on television made a point that people will disagree until the cows come home about if television is good or bad. Or if it makes us smarter or dumber. But it’s not about the technology. It’s about how the technology is used. Television can bring educational material to you that you just can’t get in your local schools. That’s fantastic. But you can also get 24/7, inane Disney channel programming that can sap the life out of your family and reduce the kids to zombies who come back alive and freak out when you yank the plug. That’s horrible.
People continue to argue for one side or the other of that debate as if devices can change you, and as if there is one right answer.
Perhaps it’s not the devices (TV, computers, video games, cell phones) that actually change people. Maybe those devices merely accentuate or exacerbate a person’s preexisting tendencies to be distracted, waste time, and avoid doing other important and more productive things. If the person’s tendencies are towards being responsible and being focused on the right things, then they will make good use of the device.
A laptop, in the hands of an intelligent, motivated, focused person will allow the person to do wonders as they work towards goals. The same laptop in the hands of an unmotivated slacker that suffers from ADD will probably only get used playing online games, watching YouTube videos, and IMing their friends all day long.
In the end, they’re just tools to be used, and then can be used positively or negatively. Does it make sense to blame the tool for the outcome?
Posted: September 23rd, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 2
Comments
Comment from brettdl
Time: October 15, 2008, 10:59 am
In a lot of ways, tools are agnostic: it’s the media that is relevant: degrading song lyrics; violent video games; and such.
Comment from Mark Sicignano
Time: October 15, 2008, 12:53 pm
Yes, I agree Brett that content and what we use the tools for is important as well. Content also has a lot to do with making your life better or worse (like how you can watch an uplifting program on television, or you can tune into a news channel that leaves you frustrated, helpless and depressed).
Or listening to music while you study… Perhaps classical or jazz quietly can improve your focus but loud rock or pop music can be more of a distraction.
But there are times where certain tools can be a problem irrespective of the media. Video games or TV can waste people’s time even if the programming is positive and educational if they are spending 4 hours a day doing it. They could be interacting with friends or going outdoors for a hike or studying by reading a book.
And the crackberry is great for the guy that needs to be available for crises as work, but it can create a crisis at home with his marriage or his family if he doesn’t have the sense to “disconnect” at some point.
Still the tool is agnostic because it can be shut off by the user… The problem is when people subordinate themselves to the technology and let it control them.
We had 4 relatives from out of state come visit and we had a fancy dinner prepared. One of the visitors stayed tuned out of the conversations at the table because people from work were contacting her… or maybe it was friends… But she didn’t socialize with the people at the dinner table except minimally.
I’m not blaming the tools. It’s really just “bad manners”, but sometimes the tools exacerbate the problems. If there was no crackberry…
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